11-oxygenated-17alpha, 20alpha-epoxy-4-pregnenes



U i ed Sees Pee Q 2,873,272 t 1I-OXYGENATED-17a,20a-EPOXY-4-PREGNENES Gunther S. Fonken and John A. Hogg, Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo County, Mich., assignors to The' Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan No Drawing. Application July 13,1955 Serial No. 521,912

s'Claims. (Cl. 26l-239.55)

Mich., a corporation of This invention relates to novel steroids, and especially to ll oxygenated-17a,2i)a-epoxy-2*l-hydroxy-4'pregnene- 3,20-diones and esters thereof. These steriods may be represented by the following formula:

another object is the provision of a process for the conversion of these compounds into known and physiologicah 1y active steriods and the provision of the novel steriod intermediates involved. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

The novel compounds of the present invention (1) can be prepared by the reaction of an 11a,21-dihydroxy- 4, 17 (20) [cis] -pregnadien-3 -one, 11fl,21-dihydroxy-4,l7

(20)-[cisl-pregnadien 3 one or 21-hydroxy-4,l7(20) [cis]-pregnadiene-3,1l-dione, or 2l-acyloxy esters thereof represented by the following formula:

n'- oont n wherein R is a-hydroxy, fl-hydroxy or keto and .R' is hydrogen or the acyl radical of a hydrocarboncarboxylic acid containing from one to twelve carbon atoms, with about a molar equivalent of a peraoid, e; g, perbenzoic,

as shown in the examples hereinafter. Saponitication of the 2l-acyl group of a 170t,20a-POXY steriod is productive of the corresponding 2l-hydroxy steroids of the present invention. The .17e,20u-epoxy-21-acyloxy 4'- 'pregnene-iidhdiones' can alsobe prepared bytthe chromic 2,373,272 Pee-e F -.1 a

acid oxidation of the corresponding ll-hydroxy-17a,20 epoxy-2l-acyloxy-4-pregnen-3one.

The starting 1 l-oxygenated-Z1-hydroxy-4, 17 20 [cis] pregnadien-3-ones and 2l-esters thereof (11) can be prepared as follows: reacting 11a-hydroxy-progesterone, llfl-hydroxyprogesterone or il-ketoprogesterone with about one molar equivalent of sodium methoxide' and several molar equivalents of diethyl oxalate in benzene is productive of the corresponding 21 alkoxyoxalyl sterioids (U. S. 2,683,724). Adding two molar equivalents of bromine at room temperature or below to these steroids in the presence of potassium acetate followed by the addition of at least two molar equivalents of sodium methoxide in the presence of methanol is productive of methyl 3-keto-l'la-hydroxyl, 17(20)-[cisl -pregnadien-2 1-oate, methyl 3-keto-1 1 fi-hydroxyl, 17 20 [cis -pregnadien-2 1 2l-oate, respectively. Ketalization of the 3-keto group of these compounds with ethylene glycol, followed by a lithium aluminum hydride reduction of the ZI-estergroup and then hydrolysis of the 3-ketal group is productive of'1la,21-dihydroxy-4,17(20)-[cis]-pregnadien 3 one, 115,21-dihydroxy-4,17(20)-[cis]-pregnadienficne and a mixture of 11a,21- and 11,6,21-dihydroxy-4,l7(20)-[cis] pregnadien-B-one, respectively. Esterification of the 2 1- hydroxy group of these compounds with an acylating derivative, e. g., acid chloride, acid bromide or acid anhydride of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to twelve carbon atoms, inclusive, is productive of the '1 l-hydroxy-2l -acyloXy-4, 17 (20 [cis] -pregnadien-3"- ones. Oxidation of these compounds with chromic acid in acetic acid is productive of the 21-acyloxy-4,17 (20) [cis]-pregnadiene-3,ll-diones, all as more fully disclosed in the copending applications and patents of Hogg et aL, Ser. Nos. 307,385, filed August 30, 1952, 345,675 and 345,677, filed March 30, 1953, now Pat. Nos. 2,774,776, 2,735,856, and 2,715,621, respectively, and in U. S. 2,695,906, issued November 30, 1954, and 2,707,184, issued April 26, 1955. The 11-oxygenated-17a,20a-epoxy-2l-acyloxy-4-pregnen-3-ones (I) are useful in the production of a variety of known and physiologically active steroids. For example, opening the oxide of the ll-keto compound of the present invention with a Lewis acid produces the corresponding l7a,20;8-glycol, as disclosed hereinafter, i. e., a 21-monoester of Reichsteins Substance U. This compound is oxidizedwitha large excess of activated manganese dioxide or a chemical equivalent of chromic acid in pyridine to produce 21-esters of cortisone, which in turn are hydrolyzable to cortisone.

Converting an 11 k eto compound of the present inven tion (I, R is keto) to the corresponding l7a,20B-gl60l and then ketalizing the 3 -keto group with ethylene glycol or other lower-alkane-u-diol or lower-aliranefihiol, in the presenceof para-toluenesulfonic acid or other acid catalyst, is productive of a 3-ketalized 17a,20,e-dihydroxy- 2l-acyloxy-S-pregnene,1l-dione. Reducing the 11- keto group to an 11 B-hydr oxy group with sodium borohydride is productive of a '3-ketalized 1l,8,17a,20B-trihydroxy-Zl-acyloxy5-pregnen-3one. {ydrolysis of .the ketal group with dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid in acetone or other inert solvent is productive of l1;3,17 i,'

20B-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (Reichsteins Substance E). Alternatively, the sodium borohydride canbe replaced with lithium aluminum hydride to produce the corresponding 3-ketalized 11}8,l7o,20fi,2l-tetrahydroxy-5- pregnen-3-one which also is hydrolyzed. ,with the dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid in acetone to Reichsteins Substance E. Oxidation of the 20-fi-hydroxy group with activated manganese dioxide [Attenburrow et ah, "1. Chem. Soc. 1094 (1952)], is productive ot Kendall-hi and evaporated to dryness. I from about ten milliliters of acetone to give 310 milli- Compound F (hydrocortisone). Alternatively, the 21- hydroxy group ofR'eichsteins Substance E can be selectively csterified according to methods known in the art to produce Reichsteins Substance E, 2l-monoacetate which can then be oxidized with a chemical equivalent of-chromic acid in pyridine toc'ortisone acetate.

"Dehydration of 1lfl-hydroxy-l7a,20aepoxy-2l-acetoXy-4-pregnen-3-one or 1 1ot-hydroxy-17m,20ot-epoxy-21- acetoxy- 4-pregnen-3-one with p-toluenesulfonic acid in of "the ZO/S-hydroxy group with activated manganese dioxide in an inert solvent, e. g., ethyl acetate, is productive oxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (9ot-fluorohydrocortisonc acetate).

The followingexample's are illustrative of thecompounds of the present invention and aprocessfor their production, ,but arenot to be construed as limiting.

EXAMPLE 1 A solution of 500 milligrams of llfl-hydroxy-Zl-acetoxy-4,-17(20)-[cisJ-pregnadien-3-one in five milliliters of benzene was mixed with a solution of 210 milligrams of perbenzolic acid in 10.5 milliliters of benzene for thirty minutes at room temperature. The precipitated white crystalline product melted at 193 to 196 degrees centigrade. Recrystallization from acetone gave IIB-hydroxy- 17e,20u-epoxy-21-acetoxy 4-pregnen-3-one melting at 205 to 209 degrees centigrade, having an [cd of plus 117 degrees in chloroform and the analysis below.

Calculated for C H O C, 71.10; H, 8.30. Found: C, 71.09; H, 8.16.

The same product was obtained in better yield by performing the same reaction at between zero and five degrees centigrade for 24 hours. The solution was diluted with fifty milliliters of benzene, washed with water and aqueous five percent sodium bicarbonate, dried The residue was crystallized grams of 1lfi-hydroxy-17ot,20ot-epoxy-2l-acetoxy 4-pregnen-S-one melting at 212 to 216 degrees centigrade.

Similarly, other 1l/i-hydroXy-Z1-acyloxy-4,17(20)- [cis]-pregnadien-3-ones are converted to other llfl-hydroxy-17ot,20ot-epoxy-2l-acyloxy-4-pregnen 3 ones, by epoxidatlon of the 17 (20)-[cis] double bond, wherein the acyl group is the acyl radicalof, for example, a'

lower-aliphatic acid, e. g., formic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric, trimethylacetic, Z-methylbutyric, 3-ethylbutyric, hexanoic, diethylacetic, triethylacetic, .heptanoic, octanoic, wethylisovaleric, eyclopropyideneaeetic, cyclopentylformic, cyclopentylacetic, t l-cyclopentylpropionic, cyclohexylformic, cyclohexylacetic, cyclohexylpropionic, an aryl or alkaryl acid, e. g., ben- .zoic, 2,3, or 4-methylbenzoie,.2,3-, 2,4 2,5-., 2,6 3,45 and j 3,5-dimethylbenzoic, :ethylbenzzoic,v 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic, 2,4,6-triethylbenzoic, ,m-naphthoic, -3-methyl-d- Addition of hydrogen fluoride in chloroform' naphthoic, an aralkyl acid, e. g., phenylacetic, phenylpropionic, diphenylacetic, triphenylacetic, etc.

The same 2l-esters of 1la,2l-dihydroxy-l70,2Oaepoxy-21-acyloxy-4-pregnene-3-one are similarly prepared from the corresponding 2l-esters of llot,2l-dihydroxy-4, 17 (20) -[cis] -pregnadien-3-one.

. EXAMPLE 2 l 7a,20a-epoxy-21-acet0xy-4-pregneue-3,1.1-di0ne.

To a solution of one gram of 2l-acetoxy-4,l7(20)- [cis]-pregnadicne-3,1l-dione, prepared by the chromic acid oxidation of 1lfl-hydroxy-Zl-acetoxy-4,l7(20) [cislpregnadien-3-one in the manner describedin the copending application of Hogg et al., Ser. No. 345,675, in ten milliliters of chloroform was added, at about ten degrees Centigrade, a solution of one'milliliter of thirty percent peracetic acid. The solution was maintained at about ten degrees centigrade for about eighteen hours, diluted with fifty milliliters of chloroform, washed with water, aqueous four percent sodium bicarbonate, and water, dried and'then evaporated to dryness. The crystalline. residue melted at 143 to 153 degrees Centigrade, and when recrystallized from a mixture of acetone and Skellysolve B (hexane hydrocarbons), gave 17a,20ot-epoxy-2l-acetoxy-4-pregnene-3,ll-dione melting at 187 to 189 degrees Centigrade, having an. [0.1 of plus degrees in acetone and the analysis below.

Calculated for C H O C, 71.47; H, 7.82. Found: C, 71.40; H, 7.94.

l7ot,20a-epoxy-2l-acetoxy-4-pregnene-3,1l-dione was also prepared by the reaction of 3 88.5 milligrams of 11,8- hydroxy-lhJOa-epoxy-Zl-acetoxy 4 -pregnen-3-one in fifty milliliters of glacial acetic acid with eighty milligrams of chromic anhydride in 0.5 milliliter of. water'at about'eighteen degrees centigrade for ten minutes.

Similarly, other. l7a,2()o-epoxy-2l-acyloxy-4-pregnene- 3,11-diones are prepared, e. g., those wherein the acyl radical is that of an acid named .in the paragraph followingfExample 1, by epoxidation of the 1'7(2'O)-double bond of the corresponding 21-acyloxy-4,17('20)-[cis]- pregnadiene-fi, 1 l-dione.

EXAMPLE 3 1 1 3,21 -dih vdroxy-1 7a,20ct-epoxy-4-pregnend-one To ausolution of 100 milligrams of llfi-hydroxy-lh, 20u-epoxy-2l-acetoxy-4-prcgnen-3-one in two milliliters of chloroform was added two milliliters of aqueous five percent sodium hydroxideand eight milliliters of methan01. Thesolution was maintained a room temperature for about eighteen hours and then diluted with twenty milliliters of'water and forty milliliters of methylene chloride. The aqueous phase was separated, washed with two twenty-milliliter portions .of methylene chloride which were added to the organic phase and the total organic phase washed twice with water and then dried. The solution was distilled to dlyness and the residue, which melted at 191 to 202 degrees centigrade, was recrystallized from acetone to give 4-8 milligrams of lip, 21-dihydroxy-17a,20a-epoxy-4-pregnen-3-one melting at 214 to 220 degrees centigrade and having the analysis below.

Calculated for C H O C, 72.80; H, 8.73. Found: C, 72.71; H, 8.76.

Following the procedure described above, :,20aepoxy-21-acetoxy-4-pregnene-3, ll-dione is hydrolyzed to 17 a,20a-epoxy-'21-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,1 l-dione;

A solution of 350 milligrams of 17a,20a-epoxy-21- 'acetOXyl-pregnene-SJledione in fifteen milliliters of purifieddioxane containing eight drops of'boron trifiuorideetheratewas maintained. at room temperature 'for .:about-eighteen hours, diluted with 100 milliliters of methylene chloride and thirty milliliters of wannabe organic phase separated. The aqueous phase was washed with 100 milliliters of methylene chloride which was combined with the organic phase and the whole washed with water and then dried. The solvent was distilled from the dried solution leaving a residue containing 1704, 205-dihydroxy 21 acetoxy 4 pregnene 3,11 dione. The crude mixture was dissolved in a mixture of six milliliters of acetic anhydride plus six milliliters of pyridine and the solution maintained at room temperature for about eighteen hours. The solution was poured into ice water and the mixture extracted with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride layer was washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, water and then dried. The dried solution was evaporated to dryness leaving a residue which after crystallization from a mixture of acetone and ether, melted at 240 to 245 degrees centigrade, and after a second crystallization from the same mixture, melted at 247 to 249 degrees centigrade, had an [11], of plus 165 degrees in acetone, an E of 14,075 in ethanol and the analysis below.

Calculated for C H O C, 67.24; H, 7.67. Found: C, 67.26; H, 7.85.

1 7 (1,205,21 -trihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,1 1 -dione A solution of 150 milligrams of potassium carbonate and 250 milligrams of potassium bicarbonate in five milliliters of water was added to a solution of 260 milligrams of 17a-hydroXy-20;3,2l-diacetoxy-4-pregnene-3,l1- dione in twenty milliliters of methanol. The solution was maintained in an atmosphere of nitrogen for three days at room temperature and then neutralized with 0.3 milliliter of acetic acid. The solution was concentrated to between five to ten milliliters by distillation at reduced pressure and then mixed with 100 milliliters of water. The aqueous mixture was extracted with four fifty-milliliter portions of chloroform which were combined, washed with aqueous potassium carbonate, water and then dried. The dried solution was evaporated to dryness and the residue crystallized from a mixture of acetone and Skellysolve B to give crystals of l7oz,20}3,21- trihydroxy-4-pregnene'3,1l-dione (Reichsteins Substance U) melting at 201 to 203 degrees centigrade and, after a second crystallization from the same solvent, melting at 202 to 204 degrees centigrade and having an [111 of plus 154 degrees in acetone.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or exact compounds shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An 11-oxygenated-17a,20a-epoxy-21-oxy-4-pregnen- 3-one represented by the following formula:

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Butenandt Dec. 9, 1941 Schneider Nov. 6, 1956 

1. AN 11-OXYGENATED-17A,20A-EPOXY-21-OXY-4-PREGNEN3-/NE REPRESENTED BY THE FOLLOWING FORMULA; 